What does 'ranked' game mean?

[mzbatman]

I'm new to this online gaming...
I just need to know what quick ranked means.

[Yeah...THAT Guy]

It means it impacts your ranking. If you hit X (for the 360), you can go into a lobby and play a unranked game (meaning you can quit at any time and not be punished, that kinda thing), whereas ranked is a specific difficulty level, and if you quit, you get hit with a loss.

[mzbatman]

Ok that makes sense, thanks.
When I play a ranked game will it connect me with any level player?
As a beginner, aren't I just going to get whooped every ranked game?

[VDusen04]

I have to admit, as someone who almost never plays online games, I never knew what ranked really meant either.